(Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Angela Brown

Proposed SUMA resolution

City looking at tenant insurance proposal to SUMA

Jan 25, 2022 | 8:10 AM

The City of North Battleford is considering proposing a resolution to the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) to ensure more people who live in rental housing have an opportunity for better protection.

Mayor David Gillan raised the issue at Monday’s council meeting.

After speaking to some of the families whose homes were destroyed in the recent apartment building fire on the 1400 block of 102 Street, Gillan discovered many did not have apartment contents insurance and lost everything in the blaze. As a result, they are now starting from scratch again.

Gillan said many related to him they were not aware this type of insurance was available.

“That was an eye opener for sure, to see so many people without insurance, and so many people saying they don’t know it exists,” he said.

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He said some also had the false understanding that the landlord had insurance for their contents. In response, Gillan proposed the city submit a resolution to SUMA for future consideration to require landlords to ask tenants if they would like to purchase insurance from a provider, so their belongings would be covered in the event of a fire or other tragedy.

“I am not suggesting that everybody must have it [contents insurance], but it’s to make people aware,” he said.

After checking with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations, the mayor discovered it’s currently not mandated for landlords to make this enquiry of tenants. He said the issue is not addressed in the Residential Tenancies Act.

Coun. Bill Ironstand was supportive of the proposal.

“It’s a great idea to put forward to SUMA, absolutely, province-wide,” he said.

Prior to its annual convention, SUMA issues a call for resolutions, which help direct its advocacy. The deadline for resolutions to be considered at the upcoming convention coming up in April is the end of January.

Gillan will collaborate with city administration to draft a proposal for the resolution, and will distribute it to council via email for their consideration to meet the deadline.

“We’ll work on it, if everybody is interested, and see where it goes on the SUMA floor,” he said.

Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow